Chronicle Parker
Parker 8.2.13
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 40
August 2, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourparkernews.com
County reaches out to seniors Listening tour, survey look at needs, resources By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
Prairie Crossing Elementary School technology teacher Debbie Blair shows a video that fifth-graders created on the branches of U.S. government. Photo by Jane Reuter
Teacher brings life to learning Prairie Crossing Elementary educator says engagement is key to pupils’ retention By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Kelly Cargo displays a wide, gap-toothed smile when she talks about her favorite technology project. “The Best Part About Me,” the Prairie Crossing Elementary fourth-grader said. “You’ve got to choose three things you like about yourself.” With help from technology teacher Debbie Blair, Cargo learned a computer program that allowed her to create a video and zoom in on Cargo’s favorite physical feature — her big, blue eyes. Like Cargo, sixth-grader Jordan McDonald doesn’t need time to recall her favorite. Though it was nearly three years ago, the
memory is fresh. “It was what our passion is,” she said. “We did a video of what we really like to do.” For McDonald, that was karate. That near-instant recall is among the ways Blair sees technology changing education, and why she believes so fiercely in what she does. Her son, a student at Prairie Crossing in Parker, created a virtual scrapbook on astronaut Neil Armstrong. “This was done in March or April and I know my son could still tell me about Neil Armstrong,” she said. “That’s because of the level of engagement.” Initially a third-grade teacher at Prairie Crossing, Blair was named the school’s technology teacher seven years ago. The floating position takes her into every classroom, working with kindergartners, sixthgraders and all levels in between, on projects related to their studies. Classroom teachers work alongside Blair in a unique, shared teaching style.
“We were the first school in the district to adopt the co-teaching model for technology,” said Blair. “It’s essentially embedded staff development. Teachers are learning to use the tools, too.” Second-grade teacher Brigitte Cranmer said some teachers initially were hesitant. “Debbie has pushed, prepared and given a lot of support to the teachers,” she said. “It took years to accomplish, but I really think Prairie Crossing leads in technology.” Blair’s position melds perfectly with the concept of 21st-century education, and her projects typically include the four C’s emphasized as part of the Douglas County School District’s curriculum: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication. “I think we do a lot of things at Prairie Crossing technologically that other schools may do, but maybe not to the same extent,” Blair said. “The different ways to use
As Douglas County prepares for a quarter of its population to be over the age of 60 by 2030, county officials are beginning to discuss the needs of today’s senior population from Deckers to Parker and everywhere in between. The Partnership of Douglas County Governments is putting forth a collaborative effort between all the towns, cities and special districts within the county, along with the school and library districts, to learn exactly what needs are out there and to what extent individuals and families in the county are aware of current available resources. As part of that process, community leaders and elected officials will have a listening tour lasting a month and a half, starting Aug. 2 in Deckers. The tour has two scheduled stops each in Castle Rock and Parker and will also pass through Roxborough, Larkspur, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Louviers and Lone Tree. The listening tour is being organized to give residents the opportunity to share their own visions for the community and address with county officials where there are gaps in current services. According to county spokeswoman Wendy Holmes, Douglas County is the only member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments that is addressing such a situation in this manner. Seniors continues on Page 12
Teacher continues on Page 12
Fair back, bigger and better Plenty to do, plenty to see at annual event in Castle Rock By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com
The Douglas County Fairgrounds has been busy recently in the leadup to the county fair. This major quarter horse show attracted competitors from Nevada, Texas and elsewhere. Photo by Virginia Grantier
It’s not just a spectator sport, this year’s annual Douglas County Fair and Rodeo: In addition to watching livestock competitions and rodeos, there are free pancakes, pie-eating contests, dances, carnival rides, hands-on ag-education opportunities — and, of course, the cricket races. The fair is Aug. 8-11, but many of the preliminary events are already underway. The fourth annual cricket races for a couple hundred kids and crickets will take place at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 9, and racers are reminded not to bring their own crickets. It’s not because race organizers are worried about seeing super crickets with suspiciously large muscle-bound insect bodies. They want to spare young cricket-handlers from perhaps losing their cricket pet, says Fair continues on Page 22
The Partnership of Douglas County Governments is embarking on a collaborative effort with all of the county’s municipalities, the school district and the library district to gather information on the current and future quality of life needs of those 60 and older living in the county. Transportation, health services, and affordable housing are all primary areas of study. File photo
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